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Paying for Home Care

StarLight CareGivers provides personal and companionship care, not medical care, so unfortunately health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid do not help cover the cost of non-medical home care at this time. A doctor may prescribe that a nurse or other health practitioner to provide support in the home, but that is usually a very short visit to complete a specific medical purpose and is covered by insurance. The remainder of the day and evening is non-medical and where clients need support with activities of daily living (ADLs).

Clients typically use the following to pay for home care costs:

Private savings

Social Security

Long term care insurance (the plan must have a rider for non-medical personal care)

Pensions

Veteran Aid and Attendance Pension: Whether or not you or your family member qualifies for the A&A program, the VA allows households to deduct the annual cost of paying for in-home care when calculating their regular pension benefit.

Not surprisingly, people want to age at home in a safe and familiar environment, and home care is also the lowest cost when compared to alternatives. To understand how long-term care costs are trending over time, Genworth Financial announced the results of its 2013 cost of care study which was calculated on a 5-year average (2008-2013) based on a comparison of data gathered from providers across the country resulting in:

The 2013 national average cost of a private nursing home room ($230 a day / $ 83,950 annually) has risen an average 4.45 percent per year.

The 2013 national average cost of a semi-private nursing home room ($207 a day / $75,555 annually) has risen an average 4.22 percent per year.

The 2013 national average cost for a month in an assisted living facility ($3,450 a month / $41,400 annually) has risen an average 4.26 percent per year.

The 2013 national average cost for a home health aide (35,568 annually) has raised an average of 1 percent per year.

StarLight CareGivers is closely engaged with local and national home care industry associations and are closely monitoring new laws and regulations that can help families pay for this rapidly growing need. It is critical that families develop a financial plan to meet loved one’s home care needs. Having a plan in place helps to ensure that your loved ones are comfortable, secure and cared for as they age and that your family’s financial resources are preserved in the process.